Book-support



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-She6t Li.

J. B. OLINE.

BOOK SUPPORT.

No. 385,445. v Patented July 8, 1888.

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BOOK SUPPORT.

' No. 385,445. Patented July 3, 1888.-

12? fm aooe 3 3 41) auto 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. CLINE, OF JEFFERSON, IOWA.

BOOK-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,445. dated July3.1888.

Application filed June 23, 1887. Serial No. 242,298. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, Joan E. CLINE, of Jefferson, in the county of Greeneand State of Iowa, have invented certain Improvementsin Book-Supports,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of booksupports in which thebook'holder is auto matically adjusted so as to maintain the uppersurfaces of an open book placed thereon in substantially the same plane;and the invention consists in providing a book-support with a two-partadjusting booleholder, each part of which is connected at opposite sidesto the ends of balance-levers.

The invention further consists in certain fea tures of constructionhereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l is an end View of the book-support. Fig. 2 isa plan view. Fig. 3 is a side view.

The main frame A may be of any suitable construction, and, as shown, isprovided with legs B, preferably formed in pairs for convenience incasting, and secured to the frame by screws or other fastening devices.To sustain the frame in an inclined position, the rear pair of legs maybe longer-than the front pair, and to avoid slipping or marring thesurface on which the support may be placed the feet are provided withelastic pads or cushions O.

The book-holder is composed of two frames, D and E, each formed ofstrips (1 and crosspieces e, or otherwise, and connected at the ends bylevers E and G, arranged one in front of the other in pairs at each endof the bookholder. The levers of each pair are pivoted to opposite sidesof the frame A, and each lever is pivoted to both frames I) and E atrespectivel y opposite sides thereof. The arrange ment of the lovers issuch that the two parts of the book-holder are free to move up or downin opposite directions, but are maintained at all times parallel onewith the other.

The two frames of the book-holder being balanced, an open book placedthereon will be held with its upper surfaces in substantially the sameplane, the holder automatically adj usting as the leaves of the book areturned to one side or the other.

Each frame D and E is provided with an adj ustable book-holding clampconsisting of a le ver, H, pivoted to the under side of the frame towhich it is attached, one arm of the lever being engaged by a spring, K,interposed between the frame and the said arm, and which tends todepress the arm, and the other arm of the lever extending upward andaround the end of the frame of the book-holder and forming aclampingfinger, h, which is adapted to engage the edge of the cover ofthe book and hold it firmly on the frame to which the said clamp isattached. The clamp is operated by means of a tl1uml')-screw, I, carriedby the arm of the lever, provided with the clamping-finger, and whichscrew acts against the spring K.

The main frame A is provided at each end with arms, a, terminating insockets and serving as supports for a removable shelf, M, and anarm-rest, L, also preferably removable, the said shelf and rest being atopposite ends of the frame A.

The shelf M may be of any suitable construction, its purpose being toserve as a receptacle for writing material and thclike,and, as shown,consists of a flanged table, m, having arms N, attached to the underside and adapted to the sockets on the arms a at one end of the mainframe A.

The arm-rest, as shown, consists of a piece, 0, hinged near one edge tothe ends of rods 1?, threaded at the other ends. The rods P extendthrough eyes on the forked ends R of a bracket, S, the latter beingprovided with projections T, adapted to the sockets on the arms a. Therods P are provided between the eyes 011 the ends R of the bracket Swith nuts U, on turning which the rods and the arm-rest carried therebywill be moved up or down. To the under side of the arm-rest is pivoted apendent stop, V, which, engaging against the bracket S, holds the saidarm-rest in the elevated position,but which may be swung against therest and the latter be folded against the rods 1? and bracket S. Whenthe armrest is lifted from the folded position, the pendant will falland engage the bracket S, as stated. The adjustment of the arm-restpermits its upper surface to be quickly brought into line or even withthe upper surface of the book whatever its thickness.

While the book-support is adapted to books of various kinds, it isdesigned more particularly for use by book-keepers and accountants, whouse large and heavy books.

The invention is not confined to the exact construction and arrangementof parts shown, as it is only essential that the levers at each end ofthe book-holder be placed one in front of the other, thereby making thedevice much more compact than if they were placed one above the other orotherwise arranged, and that the armrest be adjustable, so as to adaptit for use with books of different thicknesses.

The arm-rest shown in the drawings is adapted for double-page work, andfor single-page work a shorter rest provided with swingingsupporting-arms, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, may be used, the saidrest being moved to one side or the other, as required. I

Having described theinvention, what I claim 1s- 1. In a book-support,the combinatiomwith a book-holder composed of two oppositelymovableparts, of connecting-levers arranged one in front of the other, and eachlever connected to both parts of the book-holder at respectively-opposite sides thereof, substantially as described.

I i x l 2. In a book-support, the combination,with a book-holdercomposed of two oppositelymovable parts, of centrally-pivotedconnecting-levers, each lever connected at the ends to 0 main frame, thetwo-part book-holder, and the 5 levers pivoted .to the main frame atopposite sides thereof, and each'lever pivoted to both parts of thebook-holder at their respectivelyopposite sides, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a book-support, the combination,with 40 the book-holder, of aclamp consisting of a spring-actuated lever provided with aclamping-finger and an adj Listing-screw, substantial ly as described.

In testimony whereofI hereunto set my hand, 5

this 7th day of June, 1887, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

JNO. B. CLINE.

Vitnesses:

P. J. GAWTON, J. E. GLINE.

